Stiff leg outrigger for fire trucks and the like



May 31, 1966 A. KRYNYTZKY' STIFF LEG OUTRIGGER FOR FIRE TRUCKS AND THELIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2'7, 1964 I NVENT;)R

mags 5 May 31, 1966 A. KRYNYTZKY STIFF LEG OUTRIGGER FOR FIRE TRUCKS ANDTHE LIKE s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2'7, 1964 :6 INVENTOR.

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STIFF LEG OUTRIGGER FOR FIRE TRUCKS AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledApril 27, 1964 United States Patent 3,253,717 STIFF LEG OUTRIGGER FORFIRE TRUCKS AND THE LIKE Alexander Krynytzky, Ebenezer, N.Y., assignorto Steriing Precision Corporation, Elmira, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Fiied Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,708 1 Claim. (Cl. 212-145)This invention relates to a stiff leg outrigger for the chassis of afire truck or the like and more particularly to such an outrigger forvehicles which in service are top heavy and subject to off-centerloading such as a fire truck having a two-arm boom carrying a platformand a large nozzle which can be moved far outboard from the truck to themost advantageous position for directing one or more heavy streams ofwater on the fire and for observing the conditions and directing thefirefighting.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide sucha stiff leg outrigger which is extensible from, and contractible intothe body confines of the truck and which when extended has long stiiflegs projecting at a favorable angle from the chassis onto the groundand which when contracted is extremely compact, high from the highwayand can be wholly contained within the confines of the body of the truckso as to be free from danger of accidental injury in going to and fromthe fire.

Another object is to provide such a stiff leg outrigger which whenextended is strong and adequate to support the chassis firmly andpositively from the ground notwithstanding swinging of a heavy boom orthe like carried by the truck from one side to the other and faroutboard from the chassis.

Another aim is to provide such a stiff leg outrigger which adapts itselfto irregularities in the terrain.

Another aim is to provide such a stiff leg outrigger in which each stiffleg outrigger strut swings outwardly to eflfect engagement of mechanicalstops which serve to take the strain of stabilizing the chassis andrelieve this strain from hydraulic cylinders used to swing the strut orstiff leg out from the chassis.

Another object is to provide such a stiff leg outrigger which is simplein construction and reliable in operation and will stand up underconditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order orrequiring repairs and servicing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theiiollowing description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the rear end of a fire truck shownin phantom or dot-dash lines as carrying a turntable on which a platformcarrying doublearm boom is mounted, and showing, in full lines, a stifileg outrigger embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken transversely of the fire truckchassis generally on line 33, FIG. 2 and showing one side of the stiifleg outrigger extended and operative, and the opposite side contractedinto the confines of the truck body and inoperative.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken lengthwise of the fire truckgenerally on line 44, FIG. 2 and showing the stifi leg outrigger in itscontracted or inoperative condition.

boom carried by a turntable on the vehicle chassis and carrying aplatform on which one or more firemen can be brought to the bestlocation to perform a rescue op as mounted on the chassis 10 of the firetruck, this chassis being also shown in phantom as supported by rearWheels 11 and as having main longitudinal side beams 12 on which thestructure, indicated generally at 13, forming the stabilizer of thepresent invention is mounted, this structure being shown in full lines.ture 13, as again illustrated in phantom or dot-dash lines, is carriedthe turntable 14 of the double-arm boom structure which is preferably ofthe form described in detail in the copending application of AlexanderKrynytzky et al. for Vehicle Carried Booms, Serial No. 333,096, filedDecember 24, 1963. In general, this double-beam boom strucm're is shownherein as comprising a bottom arm 15 and a top arm 16 pivotallyconnected together at corresponding ends (not shown), the bottom arm 15having its opposite end pivotal-1y mounted on the turntable 14 and thetop arm 16 carrying a platform 19 which carries one or more of thefiremen as well as one or more large water nozzles 20 and which platform19 is maintained in a level position in all positions of the arms 15,16. The turntable 14 can be turned and the arms individually elevatedunder control of a controller 21 on the platform 19, the lifting meansfor the bottom arm 15 being shown as being a telescopic hydraulic lift22 including a cylinder 23 pivotally connected at one end (not shown) tothe turntable 14 and containing a piston at the end of a piston rod 24which protrudes from the other end of the cylinder 23 and is pivotallyconnected to the underside of the bottom arm 15.

The stabilizing structure 13 of the present invention includes a framestructure comprising horizontal top plate 30 having a central opening 31through which Water is supplied to the nozzle 20. This horizontal topplate 30 is shown as supported on the main longitudinal side beams 12 ofthe chassis by two pairs of cross channel beams 32 which extendtransversely of these side beams 12 and have their lower flanges 33secured to and supported on these main longitudinal chassis side beams12 and their upper flanges 34 secured to the underside and supportingthe top plate 30, the webs of these cross channel beams being indicatedat 35. The cross channel beams 32 of each pair are arranged in spacedrelation to each other, the space or chamber therebetween beingindicated at 36, and one pair of these cross channel beams supports thefront part of the top plate 34) and the other pair supports the rearpart of this top plate. These channels are rigidly connected together bya number of structural members extending fore-and-aft of the chassis andwhich are illustrated as follows:

The numeral 38 represents one of a pair of horizontally spaced,parallel, flat, vertical plates arranged between and under the crosschannel beams 32 and extending lengthwise of the chassis and along andin contact with outer vertical faces of the main longitudinal sidebeams'12 of the chassis as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of theseflat vertical plates 38 is of inverted T-shape in side elevation, thebottom cross bar 39 of each plate extending under the bottom flanges 33of the two pairs of cross channel beams 32 and the upstanding verticalpart 40 of each plate 38 being secured at its upper edge, as by welding,to the under side of the top plate 30.

The inside cross channel beams 32 of each pair are also connected by apair of inverted T-bars 41 which extend lengthwise of the chassis andhave their ends in abutting relation and secured, as by welding, to theWebs On this strucchannel beams 32, the top plate 39 is cut away.

of these inside cross channel beams. The cross channel beams 32 are alsoconnected by a pair of inverted channel bars 43 which extend lengthwiseof the chassis and are secured, as by welding, to the undersides of thebottom flanges 33 of these channels. These channel bars 43 are spaced anequal distance from the outer ends of the cross channel beams 32 to formstop shoulders limiting the inward and outward swinging movement of theextensible stiff legs or struts as hereinafter described.

In line with the outer vertical sides of these channel bars 43 and theopposing faces of each pair of cross As indicated at 44, to provide arectangular recess at each corner of the top plate 39 extending inwardlyfrom the edge thereof which is parallel with the line of movement of thechassis. A pair of rectangular vertical plates 45 are secured, as bywelding, to the opposing vertical faces of the webs 3-5 at each end ofeach pair of cross channel beams 32 and project upwardly therefrom abovethe horizontal top plate 30. The portions of each pair of these verticalplates 45 projecting upwardly from the horizontal top plate 36 supportsthe opposite ends of a horizontal pivot pin 46, each of these plates 45being externally reinforced by brackets 48 through which the pivot pins46 also extend. The pivot pins 46 can be retained by cotter pins 49 andwashers 56.

Each pivot pin 46 carries a bearing bushing shown as having enlarged endhubs to the end faces of which are welded the opposing faces of thevertical side walls of an outside open-ended telescopic tube 58 which isrectangular in cross section and through which side wall thecorresponding pivot pin 46 extends. A washer 59 at each end of eachpivot pin 46 is interposed between each of these side walls and thevertical plates 45 and a vertical plate 60 is welded to the exterior ofeach of these side walls. An important feature of the invention residesin the extension of each of these plates 60 transversely inwardly fromthe upper end of its outside tube 58 and its being formed with a stopshoulder or hook 61 which engages the corresponding channel bar 43 ofthe frame structure to limit the outward swinging movement of itsoutside tube 58. Each of those stop shoulders or hooks 61 is preferablyreinforced by a side plate 62 and a metal angle piece or foot 63 whichis the engaging or wear part of this hook. Each pair of these verticalplates 60 is also cross connected by a bracing plate 64.

The outboard ends of the pairs of outside telescopic tubes 58 at eachside of the chassis can be connected together by a channel 65 suitablysecured thereto and on opposite sides of each of these channels eachoutside telescopic tube 58 can be strengthened by an external band 66.

Slidingly mounted for telescopic movement within each outside telescopictube 58 is an inside telescopic tube 68 which is also of rectangularform in cross section.

The outer end 69 of each inside telescopic tube 68 is preferably ofoutwardly diminishing tapered or Wedgeshaped form and carries ahorizontal pivot pin 70 which extends lengthwise of the line of travelof the chassis and is shown as having its opposite ends mounted inblocks 71 secured to the inner faces of the vertical side Walls of theinside telescopic tube 68, as by welding.

On the outer ends of each pin 70 is journalled a pair of ea-rs 73 fixedto the top face of a swinging foot plate 74. On the center of each pin70 is journalled a bearing 75 mounted on the outer end of a piston rod76 actuated by a piston 78 in a hydraulic cylinder 79 from one end headof which the piston rod 76 is projected and retracted. To the other endof this cylinder is fixed the corresponding bearing 55.

Each pair of these telescopic inside and outside tubes 58 and 68 areprojected horizontally away from the retracted toward the chassis 10 bya telescopic hydraulic lift or jack indicated generally at 80. Each ofthese jacks comprises a hydraulic cylinder 81 having one end pivoted,

as indicated at 82, to a cross channel bar 83 bridging the space 36between the companion pair of cross channel beams 32 and fixed thereto.This cylinder 81 contains a piston 84 at the end of a piston rod 85, theoutboard end of which is pivoted, as indicated at 86, to a bracket 88fixed to the side wall of the outside telescopic tube 58 which facestoward the center of the chassis 10.

Operation It will be assumed that the stiff le-g outrigger forming thesubject of the present invention is in its inoperative condition inwhich the inside and outside telescopic tubes 68 and 58 of the fourextensible stiff legs are in their fully telescoped or contractedcondition, and in which these telescopically contracted stiff legs havebeen swung to a vertical position so as to be housed within the outerends of the cross channel beams 32. In this condition the telescopicallycontracted stiff legs are within the confines of the body 9 and hence donot protrude to interfere with driving the truck to the fire.

When the truck reaches the fire and has been properly I positioned forthe advantageous use of its two arm booms 15, 16, the operator suppliesfluid under pressure to the inner ends of the cylinders 81. Thisprojects the four piston rods 85 thereby to swing the fourtelescopically contractedstiff legs outwardly around their pivot pins 46to an outwardly projecting angular position, say 45, as illustrated atthe right of FIGS. 2 and 3. This angularity is determined by theengagement of the several angle pieces or feet 63 on the hooks or stopshoulders 61 of the vertical plates 60 welded to the sides of eachoutside telescopic tube 58.

Following this the operator supplies fluid under pressure to the inboardends of the four cylinders 79 thereby to project the piston rod 76 ofeach of these cylinders. Since the inboard end of each cylinder 79 isconnected to the pivot pin 46 and the outboard end of each piston rod 76connected to a cross pin 70 at the outboard end of the inside telescopictube 68, this serves to extend the inside telescopic tube 68 of eachstiff leg out fro-m its telescopic outside tube 58 and thereby projectthe outer end 69 of the inside tube 68 toward the ground. This outer end69 carries the foot 74 which is also pivoted on the pin 70 and when thisfoot encounters the ground it is brought int-o firm supportingengagement therewith and the system hydraulically locked so that thechassis 10 has four stiff legs projecting a substantial distance fromopposite sides thereof and in firm supporting engagement with theground. It will be seen that through this hydraulic extension of any ofthe several stiff legs 58, 68, one can be longer than the others as maybe required due to irregularities in the terrain.

The operator then raises the double arm boom 15, 16 I and turn-s itsturntable 14 so as to bring the platform 19 into most favorable positionfor the particular firefighting involved. Such position may involve thedouble arm boom 15, 16 extending transversely of the chassis 10 landunder these circumstances the chassis 10 is supported againstoverturning, because of the oif-center weight of the double arm boom, bythe stiff legs 58, 68 so projected.

It Will particularly be noted that in this operative position of thestiff legs 58, 68, the hydraulic jacks are relieved of strain by theengagement of the stops 63 with the top and inner vertical side faces ofthe frame angle bars 43. These stops not only limit the outward swingingmovement of the stiff legs 58, 68 to obtain the After use, the doublearm boom 15, 16 is again renested on the chassis hydraulic pressure isadmitted into the outer ends of the cylinders 79 to withdraw the pistonrods 76 and hence to telescope the inside tubes 68, of the still legsinto the outside tubes 58 thereof, and when this telescopic contractionof the stiff legs has been completed fluid under pressure is introducedinto the outboard ends of the cylinders 81 so as to retract the pistonrods 85 and thereby swing the contracted telescopic stilt legs 58, 68 tothe vertical inoperative position initially assumed.

It will be noted that by the combination of axial extension and outwardswinging of the telescopic stiff legs 58, 68, a very wide outriggerspread is achieved and which can be accomplished without appreciablyincreasing the width or height of the vehicle. Also when the stiff legs58, 68 are extended the angles 63 on the hooks 61 come into contact withthe frame channels 43 to serve two functions. This limits the travel ofeach stifi leg outrigger 58, 68 in swinging about its pin 46, and alsoremoves all strain from the hydraulic jacks 81 when the outrigger is inoperation because due to the hooking or stop action of the plates 60 theforce is taken by these plates thus relieving the strain from thehydraulic jacks 89. Also in their vertical position designatedheretofore as inoperative the jacks 76, 78, 79 can be used as road jacksto lift up the rear end of the chassis 10 for tire repairs and the like.

I claim:

A stiff leg outrigger for the chassis of a fire truck or the like,comprising a longitudinally extensible leg,

means pivotally connecting the inboard end of said leg to a side of saidchassis to swing about a generally horizontal axis generally parallelwith said side of said chassis and arranged a distance above the groundgreater than the contracted length of said leg, means for swinging saidcontracted leg about said axis and moving said leg to and from anupright dependent position close to said chassis to and from an outboardposition in which it projects outwardly and downwardly away from saidside of said chassis toward the ground, means for extending andretracting said extensible le-g longitudinally to bring the outboard endof said projected leg into and out of engagement with the ground, and astop is fixed to said chassis in the path of a stop fixed to saidinboard end of said leg to limit the outward swinging movement of thecontracted leg and to relieve said means for swinging said contractedleg from strain when said leg is projected into engagement with theground.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,169 12/1944Billings 212-445 2,709,859 6/1955 Pilch 212- X 3,073,458 1/1963 Wieschel212-145 3,175,698 3/1965 Dassler 212-145 HUGO O. SCHULZ, PrimaryExaminer. SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Examiner.

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner.

